Blossoming Biodiversity Bonds in Yunnan’s Botanical Garden

Nestled within the landscape of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunnan, magnificent tall trees bear a surprise - clusters of yellow fruits that beckon curious visitors. As visitors gingerly peel open the fruit, they are greeted by a creamy pulp, akin to the texture of a hard-boiled egg yolk.

The egg-yolk fruit tree, with its appearance and offering, has indeed earned its place as one of the most abundant trees in the botanical garden.

However, its origin traces back to a distant land far beyond the borders of Yunnan.

Egg-yolk fruit, photo from the official account of the botanical garden

Back in the 1960s, Guo Moruo, a revered poet and historian, held the position of President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. During this period, he embarked on an official visit to the island nation of Cuba.

In an act of goodwill and exchange, he returned from his journey with a precious seed - the very seed that would ultimately give birth to the first egg-yolk fruit mother tree.

“This embodies the friendship between China and Cuba,” said Yang Zhen, the leader of XTBG’s scientific communication team. In the seeds of this fruit tree, a deep-rooted connection between nations took shape.

The tropical botanical garden, which preserves 250 hectares of tropical rainforest, is the largest of its kind in China, with the richest collection of species and the most specialized plant areas. It houses over 13,000 living plant species, and its reputation as a world-renowned hub for cutting-edge research and an open platform for scientific exploration echoes far beyond its lush green confines.

A glimpse of the botanical garden with diverse species, photo by Liu Zhaoxi

According to Yang, the kind of species serving as the symbol of international friendship is not an isolated case.

Between 2012 and 2022, the garden has introduced 2,839 species from 41 foreign countries, including Myanmar, Thailand, and Pakistan, among others. Each introduction reflects not only a remarkable addition to the garden's diverse living collection but also a step towards global unity and ecological cooperation.

Besides genetically intersecting foreign and domestic, the related history with specific plants also reflects the interaction cross borders.

In 1986, Prince Philip of the United Kingdom visited China and personally planted a Camphor tree in the botanical garden.

Nearly 30 years later, his grandson, Prince William, planted a Dillenia indica L. tree next to the well-grown and upright Camphor, further cementing the profound cooperation between China and the UK in the field of biodiversity.

Memorial stone for Prince William’s planting, photo by Liu Zhaoxi

"Yunnan, as one of the most biologically and culturally diverse regions on earth, is well-suited to serve as a medium for connecting through biodiversity,” said Yang.

Over the past years, China has firmly practiced multilateralism and actively carried out international cooperation on biodiversity conservation, with stronger South-South cooperation in biodiversity conservation and improved multilateral cooperation mechanisms for green development under the Belt and Road Initiative.

One of the most significant events is the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15).

Themed “Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”, the first part of COP 15 held in Yunnan in 2021 has put biodiversity on a path of recovery is a defining challenge of this decade, and provided new momentum for a biodiversity conservation roadmap in the coming decade.

COP 15 in Yunnan, photo from Xinhua website

(https://www.news.cn/english/2021-10/13/c_1310242406.htm)

With every passing year, the botanical garden continues to thrive, providing a space for people from all walks of life to gather and connect in a harmonious chorus of exploration and education.

The egg-yolk fruit tree, a living testament to the enduring friendship between China and Cuba, stands tall as a reminder of the beauty that emerges when nations unite for a common purpose - the protection and celebration of the planet's remarkable biodiversity.

It is a living emblem of unity, hope, and boundless possibilities in the quest for a sustainable and flourishing natural world.

Writer | Liu Zhaoxi

Design | Chen Sida